Some inter net and laptop problems here. Not to mention washing machine and burnt dinners !!
I managed to break the washing machine and burn the Fraybentos and burn out the laptop out. All in 24 hours. Can't wait to see what I break tomorrow.!! Well the bike is back together, complete with it's new white paint work. Looks pretty good, me thinks. Very happy with it. Big " thank you " to The Stig. aka Dave. The graphics will be here Tuesday. But I start my new job with Xtreme Events on Monday. So they will go on when I return in fortnights time. ( Two weeks, if you are across the pond.)
I'm working with a Stunt Show touring the UK, with 130 dates across the length and breadth of the country. It's good news for me, as I can give up my thousand pound a month rented flat up. And move into a caravan, as we tour the country. Those savings are paying for this challenge in September. I need to find seven thousand pounds by then. To cover the excitement, but necessary Carnett de Passage. ( Import document for the bike. ) It's costing seven hundred and fifty seven pounds. Visa's at thirteen hundred pounds. Food and Accommodation for 6 months. Flight and bike shipping home. The list goes on and on. By the way, I cant get this new ( ten year old ) laptop from US English into proper English. So the keyboard keys have one symbol on, but do another. The Pound currency symbol is now #.....Which is a hash in the UK. And just to confuse, is known as a pound symbol in USA. It all started going wrong with the washing machine. So hey ho. Back to the bike.
Note the front fender has been raised 40 mm. To allow a bit more space for mud, as the Rainy Season will kick in in October whilst in Africa. Big Dave fabricated the brackets and fitted them, how clever is he ? i will probably get a front fender extender too. Money permitting that is.
What do you think to the Mighty Van Van from this angle ? What a beast. Those rear tyres are rare, as a result I shall be ridding as is to southern Spain. And whilst I have a day off with an old Army mate, the local dealer will provide some brand new V rubber. Again budget permitting, I will either buy a second one brand new. Or take this one with me.The tank, as you can see. Is very small, only 7.5 lt. Which just will not cut it going through the Sahara Desert and beyond. So, after the PR work is done, this tank will have to be replaced by a larger one. Possibly a DRZ. Hopefully from Suzuki GB. And upon my return to the UK, I will swap them back over.
I also found out today that the speedo wasn't the right one for the bike. It was actually from a Honda and the Dash wiring was all wrong. Put the Indicator on and the Neutral light comes on, that sort of thing. No stress though. We are going to fit a digital bicycle speedo instead. They probably can go faster than my little Van Van anyway ! The dealer said they are twenty pounds, instead of four hundred for a pattern Suzuki one! The bike will most likely spend more time horizontal, than vertical anyway. So that's the way we shall go.
If my washing machine persists in being possessed. I am going to take a picture of it, put it on the blog and name and shame it. The Italians should stick to making fast cars and spaghetti Not washing machines. Indesit.............more like In The Sh#t !!!
I won't ask you to make a donations to my cause. As non of you ever do. Nearly 4,000 visits to this blog and 4 donations to my charity. Shocking !
Will
